Mechanobiology describes the relationship between a cell and its environment; how a cell can detect, measure and respond to the rigidity of its substrate and how these processes apply to larger biological systems.

The cytoskeleton is a highly dynamic network of filamentous proteins that enables the active transport of cellular cargo, transduces force, and when assembled into higher-order structures, forms the basis for motile cellular structures that promote cell movement. Learn More

Cell membranes are highly enriched in signaling receptors, transmembrane mechanosensors, pumps and channels, and, depending on their makeup, can recruit and retain a pool of mechanosensors important in the field of mechanobiology. Learn More

The detection of mechanical signals, and their integration into biochemical pathways, is integral to the cell’s ability to sense, measure and respond to its physical surroundings. Mechanosignl and enable communication between neighbouring cells. Learn More

Genome regulation encompasses all facets of gene expression, from the biochemical modifications of DNA, to the physical arrangement of chromosomes and the activity of the transcription machinery. Learn More

Development in higher order organisms commences at conception and continues into old age. In the earliest stages of development, the physical properties of the microenvironment can direct cell differentiation, and initiate the coordinated movement of groups of cells to establish the patterns that will define how the body is arranged. Learn More

Insights into disease etiology and progression, the two major aspects of pathogenesis, are paramount in the prevention, management and treatment of various diseases. While many people will be genetically predisposed to a given disease, the mechanical properties of the tissue or cellular environment can also contribute to disease progression or its onset.Learn More

How do forces affect actin remodeling at distant locations in a cell?

Forces applied at the periphery of a cell causes actin remodeling around the nucleus, leading to the formation of a transient perinuclear actin rim. The formation of this actin structure is dependent on the force-induced release of Ca2+ ions in the cytoplasm, […]